Method of constructing a building



July 12, 1966 R. l.. FRASER 3,250,028

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING Filed July 22, 196s [-27 F/GJ 57 33 INVENTOR. l?. LEE FRASER BY www? United States Patent O 3,260 028 METHGD OF CONSTRCTING A BUILDING R. Lee Fraser, 3723 Northwood Drive, Memphis, Tenn. Filed .Iuly 22, 1963, Ser. No. 296,661 Claims. (Cl. 52-745) This invention relates to a method of constructing a building.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a unique and simple method of constructing a building.

A further object is to provide such a method which can be accomplished with greater speed than was heretofore possible with the usual and known methods of erecting a building.

A further object is to provide a method of constructing a building wherein a major part of the construction steps are repetitive so that economy can be achieved.

A further object is to provide such a method which results in a unique and conveniently arranged building.

A further object is to provide such a method which results in a building having more usable floor space as compared with conventional buildings.

A further object is to provide such a method in which the major part of the construction is done adjacent the ground, thereby eliminating the necessity for tall booms, etc. to move the building materials, such as concrete.

A further object is to provide a unique method of forming the floors.

A further object is to provide a method of constructing a building with hoisting equipment comprising the steps of constructing a central core in upstanding relationship from the supporting ground, constructing adjacent the ground a plurality of oors respectively having central openings through which said core extends; and by the use of said hoisting equipment respectively attached between said oors and said core and by the use of said core as a support from the ground, hoisting said oors successively to position said Hoors in vertically spaced relationship and with the upper one -being hoisted rst to a position adjacent the top of said core and then on down to the bottom one to a position adjacent the bottom of said core.

A further object is to provide a unique method for expanding a building.

A further o'bject is generally to improve the design and construction of buildings.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specication upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken as on the line I-I of FIG. 2 and showing the hoisting equipment used in connection with the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a partially completed Ibuilding in which the method of the present invention has been used.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken as on the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale showing one step in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a floor constructed by an alternate method.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 5 of another alternate method of forming the floor.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan View of still another alternate floor.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by reference characters, the first step in carrying out the method of the present invention is to erect a cylindrical core 11, which, when the building is constructed in a manner later to be described, becomes the central portion of the building. Cylindrical core 11 is preferably hollow to provide a central shaft 13, which, in the completed building, is adapted to receive such equipment as desired, for example, elevators, stairways, and other means, not shown, to provide access to the completed building. Core 11 is preferably formed of concrete and preferably, though not necessarily, is erected by conventional slip form methods. In other Words, an annular form, not shown, is provided, and the concrete is substantially continuously poured from the bottom of core 11 towards the top thereof. In the completed form, cylindrical core 11 extends vertically upwardly in upstanding relationship from the supporting ground G. Suitable foundations, not shown, for the core 11 are preferably provided, as, for example, by extending the core downwardly into the ground G for a suitable distance. A cap 15 having a central opening 17 for a purpose later to be described, is preferably provided on the top of core 11, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Having constructed core 11, as above described, the next step in the method of the present invention is to construct adjacent the ground G a plurality of floors 19, which are stacked one on top of another with the lowermost one 19a being preferably supported from ground G and the others being supported thereon. For purposes of clarity, the floors have been designated 19a, 1912, etc. from the ground upwardly. In the drawings, ve floors 19 have been shown, with the uppermost one being 19e, although other numbers of oors can be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be noted that the floors 19 are individually constructed and are preferably of concrete. The floors 19 are formed by any suitable well-known means, such as providing forms, not shown, in which concrete is poured and providing suitable removable separating members, not shown, between the oors. Floors 19 are concentric with core 11 and respectively surround the core. It will be understood that although the oors 19 are shown in the drawing as being stacked, if desired, the oors can be formed or assembled one at a time and then hoisted before the next one is formed or assembled. Each of the floors 19 is preferably annular in shape; that is, the outer peripheral edge 21 thereof is substantially circular, and a substantially circular central opening 23 is provided therethrough and through which extends cylindrical core 11. Each of the openings 23 is slightly larger than the outside surface 24 of cylindrical core 11 so that each floor 19 is vertically movable relative to the core 11. FIG. 4 shows the partly finished building after this step has been completed, that is, after the floors 19 have been constructed adjacent the ground G in surrounding relationship to core 11. When the term substantially circular is used herein, it will be deemed to include not only a substantially exact circular shape, as the outer edge 21 and the central opening 23, but also other substantially circular shapes such as the outer edge 25 of the floor shown in FIG. 7, which is formed from a plurality of chords of a circle, and the opening 26 `of this same iioor which is similarly formed. It will be understood that with an opening shaped as opening 26, the core used therewith should be correspondingly shaped.

Continuing with the description of the method of the present invention, in the next step, by using suitable hoisting equipment 27 and by the use of core 11 as the support from the ground G, the floors 19 are hoisted from the positions shown in FIG. 4 to the positions shown in FIG. 1, wherein it will be seen the floors 19a-19e are vertically spaced. Also, it should be noted that the term floors is loosely used since, when in position, the iioors also may act as a rceiling for the oor therebelow, and the uppermost floor 19e preferably becomes the roof of the building, although it can become the oor of an attic if it is E desired to build one above the oor 19e. Once the floors 19 are in place, they are secured by suitable means, as, for example, by blocks such as the block Z9 shown in FIG. 3 upon which the iloor 19 rests and which block is xedly attached to core 11 by suitable means, as fastening member 31.

The hoisting equipment 27 for hoisting the oors 19, as above described, is of any suitable construction and preferably as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 wherein it will be seen a plurality of hoisting cables 33 are fixedly attached to the floor 19 being hoisted at places adjacent central opening 23 and respectively extend upwardly over pairs of pulleys 35, 37 which are supported from cap- 15, and then the hoisting cables extend downwardly through opening 17 to their place of attachment with a pulley 39. In FIG. l, the hoisting cables 33 are shown attached to the lowermost floor 19a and extend upwardly through notches 41 provided in the other oors 19 adjacent central openings 23. In addition, hoisting equipment 27 preferably includes another cable 43 which is anchored at the end thereof as at 45 by suitable means and which leads upwardly through -pulley 39, downwardly through a pulley 47 anchored in a trough T provided in ground G beneath core 11 and extending outwardly therefrom, horizontally through trough T, through another pulley 49 in trough T, and finally to a winch 51. -It will be understood that as winch 51 is turned, the cable 43 will cause downward pull on pulley 39 which, in turn, will cause hoisting cables 33 to pull upwardly on the oor to which attached. The floors 19 are lifted successively with the topmost one, that is, 19e, being lifted first and so on down by first attaching the ends of the hoisting cables 33 to the floor 19e, lifting it into place adjacent the upper end of core 11, then securing it, detaching the cables 33 from oor 19e, attaching them to floor 19d, and so on until the lowermost floor 19a is put into place. After the floors 19 have been put into the positions as above described, the building can then be nished by suitable conventional means, as, for example, by providing partitions, outside walls, etc. in the desired manner.

An alternate method of constructing the oor is shown in FIG. wherein a portion of one of the floors 52 is shown. For this alternate method, `an annular hub section 53 is constructed around core 11. A plurality of spoke members 55 are attached to hub section 53 in spaced apart relationship. The spoke members 55 extend radially outwardly from the hub section and are angled upwardly therefrom to their places of termination at distal ends remote from hub section 53 in much the same manner as spokes in a bicycle wheel. An outer ring 57 concentric with hub section 53 is attached to spoke members 55 adjacent the distal ends thereof. Hub section 53, spoke members 55, and outer ring 57 are preferably, though not necessarily, integrally formed of concrete. Next, a tensile band 59 is placed around outer ring 57 to give structural strength to the floor 52. It will be understood that when the word around `is used in the specification and in the claims, it is used in its broadest sense. Thus, the term tensile bands respectively around said floors, in the claims is not limited to the tensile bands being around the outside of the oors, but may be simply around the floors in any location, as for example, at places spaced inwardly of the outside diameter of the oors so long as the tensile bands give structural strength to the oors whereby they may be lifted. An inner ring 61 is preferably provided around core 11 above hub section 53 and is held in spaced relationship thereto by means of rigid spacing means such as members 63. A plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending members 65 are provided interconnecting inner ring 61 and outer ring 57. It should be noted that inner ring 61 and hub section 53 are larger than the outside diameter of core 11 so that the oor 52 can be hoisted in place as `heretofore described for floor 19. Also, it should be noted that the actual finished oor construction and ceiling construction can be provided .in any desired manner in connection with the oor 52. In other words, the floor per se can be provided on top of members 65, and the ceiling therebelow can be provided adjacent spoke members 55.

Another method of forming the floors is shown in FIG. 6 wherein a portion of one of the floors 67 is shown. In constructing floor `67, a hub section 69 is provided around core 11 in a similar manner to hub section 53. A solid inverted cone-shaped member 71 is erected in attached relationship around hub section 69 and extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom to the outer peripheral edge of the cone-shaped member. An outer ring 73 similar to outer ring 57 is attached to cone-shaped member 71 adjacent the peripheral edge thereof. Hub section 69, cone-shaped member 71, and outer ring 73 are preferably, though not necessarily, integrally constructed of concrete. Also, a tensile band 75 similar to tensile band 59 is provided around outer ring 73.

If it is desired to expand the building heretofore described, or if it is desired to provide additional space outwardly of the previously described floors in the initial construction, the following additional steps can be taken:

A plurality of vertically stacked annular outer oors 77 are constructed adjacent the ground G and supported therefrom in the same manner as heretofore described relative to floors 19. If desired, oors 77 can be formed or assembled one at a time and then hoisted before the next one is formed or assembled. Each of outer floors 77 is concentric `with core 11 and oors 19. Also, each of the outer oors 77 has a central substantially circular opening 79 through which extend the other portions of the building, that is, the core 11 and the portions supported thereby. In addition, cach of the central openings 79 is larger than the outer periphery of oors 19 or the outer periphery of the building if outer walls have been constructed. Next, outer oors 77 are hoisted into position in vertically spaced relationship in much the same manner as the floors 19. For example, in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the outer floors 77 are shown in the hoisted position respectively at the same levels With the corresponding floors 19, which now become the inner floors. The same nomenclature has been used relative to the outer oors as with the inner oors, that is, the lowermost one is designated 77a, the next one 77b, etc. It will be understood that substantially the same hoisting equipment 27 can be used to hoist the outer floors, with the hoisting cables 33 being successively attached to the outer floors 77 in the manner heretofore described relative to the inner floors 19, but -it will be understood that additional pulleys 81 should be provided adjacent the outer edge 21 of the upper floor 19e to guide the cables 33 around the upper floor 19e. Additionally, it will be understood that notches 83 similar to notches 41 are provided in outer oors 77 adjacent central opening 79' to make room for the hoisting cables 33. After the outer floors 77 are hoisted into place, they may be secured by suitable means as the upper and lower plates 85, 87 connected by fastening means 89, as lbest seen in FIG. 3. Also, the cables 33 are preferably replaced by columns and/or tensile members interposed between the outer floors 77. In addition, the building can then be finished olf in a conventional manner by providing walls, etc.

From the foregoing description, it can lbe seen that a very unique and simple method of constructing 4a building is provided. Thus, for example, instead of having cranes, etc., lthe method of the present invention utilizes the central core 11 to actas a supporting means for hoisting the floors into place. Additionally, since the major part of the building construction, that is, the construct-ion of the floors, is a repetitive operation which is performed on the ground level, the cost of the building is greatly reduced over previous methods of erecting buildings. In addition, by using the method of the present invention, a unique substantially circular building is provided which and conveniently expanded by the method of thepsselzlnyt invention. Further, thejbuilding that results from the present invention is one which has more. usable door space than more conventional types of buildings.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity lor understanding, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The method of constructing a building with hoisting equipment including a plurality of hoisting members, said method comprising the steps of constructing a centnal substantially large single cylindrical core in upstanding relationship from the supporting ground and with said core having access means to the interior of the building, constructing adjacent the ground and supported therefrom a plurality of substantially annular doors respectively having central substantially circular openings through which said core extends, constructing tensile bands respectively around said doors; by the use of said hoisting equipment respectively attached between said doors and said core and by the use of said core as the support from the ground and said plurality of hoisting members attached to each door, hoisting said doors successively to position said doors in vertically spaced relationship and with the upper one being hoisted rst to a posit-ion adjacent the top of said core and then on down to the bottom one to a position adjacent the bottom of said core and with the positioning of said doors being such that the distances between adjacent doors are less than the diameter of said cylindrical core.

2. In a method of constructing a building with hoisting equipment including a plurality of hoisting members, [said method comprising the steps of constructing a central cylindrical core in upstanding relationship from the supporting ground and With said core having access means to the interior of'the building, constructing adjacent the ground and supported therefrom a plurality of substantially annular inner doors respectively having central substantially circular openings through which said core extends; by the use of said hoisting equipment respectively attached between said inner doors and said core and by the use of said core as the support from the ground and said plurality of hoisting members attached to each door, hoisting said inner doors successively to position said inner doors in vertically spaced relationship and with the upper one being hoisted first to a position adjacent the top of said core and then on down to the bottom one to a position adjacent the bottom of said core Iand with the positioning of said doors being such that the distances between adjacent doors are less than the diameter lof said cylindrical core; constructing adjacent the ground and supported therefrom a plurality of outer doors respectively having central substantially circular openings through which said core extends and which are larger than the outer periphery of said inner doors; and by the use of said hoisting equipment respectively attached between said outer doors and said core and by the use of said core as the support from the ground, hoisting said outer doors successively to position said outer doors in vertically spaced relationship around at least some of said inner doors.

Can

3. In a method of constructing a building with hoisting equipment including a plurality of hoisting members, said method comprising the steps of constructing a central cylindrical core in upstanding relationship from the supporting ground Iand with said core having access means to the interior of the building, constructing adjacent the ground and supported therefrom .a plurality of vertically stacked substantially annular inner doors respectively having central substantially circular openings through which said core extends, constructing tensile bands respectively around said inner doors; by the use of said hoisting equipment respectively attached 4between said inner doors and said core and by the use of said core as the support from the ground and said plurality of hoisting members attached to each door, hoisting said inner doors successively to position said inner floors in vertically spaced relationship and with the upper one ibeing hoisted first to a position adjacent the top of said core and then on down to the bottom one to a position adjacent the bottom of said core and with the positioning of said doors being such that the distances between adjacent doors are less than the diameter of said cylindrical core; constructing adjacent the ground and supported therefrom a plurality of vertically stacked outer doorsrespectively having central substantially circular openings through which sa-id core extends and which are larger than the outer periphery of said inner doors; and by the use of said hoisting equipment respectively attached between said outer doors and said core and by the use of said core as the support from the ground, hoisting said outer doors successively to position said outer doors in vertically spaced relationship around at least some of said inner doors.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the method of constructing at least one of said inner doors comprises the steps of constructing la hub section around said core, erecting a plurality of spoke members attached to said hub section and extending radially outwardly and angled upwardly therefrom to their places of termination at distal ends remote from said core, constructing an outer ring attached to said spoke members adjacent the distal ends thereof, constructing a tensile band around said outer ring, constructing an inner ring above said hub section, constructing rigid spacing means between said inner ring and said hub section to lkeep said inner ring and said hub section apart, and constructing at least one member between said inner ring and :said outer ring.

5. The method of claim 3 in which the method of constructing at least one of said inner doors comprises the steps of constructing a hub section around said core, erecting a solid inverted cone-shape member in attached relationship around said hub section and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom to its outer peripheral edge, constructing an outer ring attached to said coneshaped member adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, and constructing a tensile band around said outer ring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 992,739 5 1911 Meier 52-252 2,358,750 9/ 1944 Walker et al. 52--21 2,618,146 11/1952 Ciarlini 52-252 2,867,111 1/1959 Youtz 52-126 FOREIGN PATENTS 833,556 3/1955 Germany.

857,443 12/ 1952 Germany.

630,696 10/ 1949 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner.

J. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING WITH HOISTING EQUIPMENT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF HOISTING MEMBERS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONSTRUCTING A CENTRAL SUBSTANTIALLY LARGE SINGLE CYLINDRICAL CORE IN UPSTANDING RELATIONSHIP FROM THE SUPPORTING GROUND AND WITH SAID CORE HAVING ACCESS MEANS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTING ADJACENT THE GROUND AND SUPPORTED THEREFROM A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR FLOORS RESPECTIVELY HAVING CENTRAL SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR OPENINGS THROUGH WHICH SAID CORE EXTENDS, CONSTRUCTING TENSILE BANDS RESPECTIVELY AROUND SAID FLOORS; BY THE USE OF SAID HOISTING EQUIPMENT RESPECTIVELY ATTACHED BETWEEN SAID FLOORS AND SAID CORE AND BY THE USE OF SAID CORE AS THE SUPPORT FROM THE GROUND AND SAID PLURALITY OF HOISTING MEMBERS ATTACHED TO EACH FLOOR, HOISTING SAID FLOORS SUCCESSIVELY TO POSITION SAID FLOOR IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP AND WITH THE UPPER ONE BEING HOISTED FIRST TO A POSITION ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID CORE AND THEN ON DOWN TO THE BOTTOM ONE TO A POSITION ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID CORE AND WITH THE POSITIONING OF SAID FLOORS BEING SUCH THAT THE DISTANCES BETWEEN ADJACENT FLOORS ARE LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CYLINDRICAL CORE. 